Buffing machine



May 5, 1953 J. N. CLYNE 2,637,147

BUF'FING MACHINE Filed July 21, 1951 1.1mm, u MM/@mf /77 70K/vins,

Patented May 5, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE BUFFING MACHINE Application July 21, 1951, Serial No. 237,875

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a builing or polishing machine, and particularly with respect to the outboard spindle supports for the bufmg or polishing wheels.

In machines of this character it is customary to provide an outwardly and laterally extending spindle upon which a buihng or polishing wheel is mounted, such spindle being free oi bearing support at its outer end for freedom from structural interference in the manipulation oi the article being puffed or polished. However, without bearing support at its extended end such spindles may flex and develop undue wear on the inner bearing supports so as to become inisaligned or warped to the extent oi developing a whip which is highly objectionable.

It is therefore the purpose ci this invention to provide such a machine of rigid structure, which Will overcome the above objections and difficulties by providing an outboard bearing for the spindle adjacent the bufng or polishing wheel such as to rigidly support an underslung spindle with a minimum of structural interference so as to provide substantially complete freedom of operating action in applying the article to be buffed or polished. This is accomplished by mounting the spindle drive and control within a rigid box-shaped cabinet supporting a transverse beam of rugged construction mounting the inner bearing support or supports for the spindle, said beam extending laterally from the cabinet to mount a depending outboard bearing on its outer end to thereby be rigidly maintained in alignment with said inner bearings. Such rigid transverse beam extending outwardly beyond the cabinet support, is accordingly adapted to support the underslung spindle in rigidly aligned bearings Without undue interference to the freedom of movement of the article in the bufng or polishing operation.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the supporting base cabinet showing the outboard extension of the spindle supporting beam with a bung or polishing wheel shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the upper portion of the cabinet with the back plate removed.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a portion of the supporting beam.

In the drawings there is shown a buling or polishing machine including a box-shaped cabinet or housing lo having side walls II and an intermediate brace bar I2 secured thereto. Traversing the side walls iI at the top thereof and secured thereon, there is a rigid supporting beam I3 terminating in the tapered outboard bearing arms I4 to provide a support for the spindle I5. Said spindle is provided with a mounting on its outer end or ends for the bufng or polishing wheel Iii as indicated in dotted lines.

lnteriorly of the cabinet the beam I 3 is provided with a central recess Il. On each side of said recess there is a pair of depending bearing blocks I8. At the extreme outer ends oi the beam there are provided the depending bearings I9. As shown herein the spindle I5 is in two sections joined at their inner ends by a coupling member 2t located between the inner bearings I8. Also between said bearings I8 there is keyed to one section or" the spindle I5 a pulley 2l of the variable speed type adapted to be driven by a belt 22 from its pulley 23 driven by the motor shaft 2i. The motor shaft 2li is driven by an electric motor 25 having its base hinged at its lower edge to the front panel of the cabinet, the upper edge having a threaded adjusting block 26 into which an adjusting screw 2l is threaded, said adjusting screw being hand actuated by an exposed hand wheel 28 to position the motor 25 and pulley 23 for varying the speed of the pulley 2l and spindle I5.

For convenience in locking the spindle against rotation for replacement of the buinng or polishing Wheels, one section of the spindle carries a disk 29 provided with a series of peripheral recesses 3i! for reception of a locking pin 3I slidably extended through the upper portion of the beam I3 and bracket 32. By forming the spindle I5 in two sections connected through the coupling 20, one section may be displaced for replacement of the belt 22 when worn.

By reason of the above described beam and bearing structure the several bearings I@ and iii are rigidly maintained in alignment at all times, the bearings I9 providing outboard support for the ends of the spindle adjacent the bufiing or polishing wheels. Wherein the bearings I9 are dependent from the outer ends of the beam, the spindle is underslung so that with the tapering of the arms I/l maximum freedom of manipulation of the work applied to the buiing or polishing wheelsis permitted.

The invention claimed is:

1. A buffing machine having a cabinet-like support, a rigid transverse beam secured across the top of said support, said beam being extended on each side thereof to provide rigid arm portions tapering to a reduced cross section at their respective ends spaced outwardly and laterally from said support, a pair of inner spindle bearings secured to the underside of said beam Within said support, a pair of outer spindle bearings secured to the underside of said beam at the respective ends of its arm portions, whereby said bearings will be maintained in rigid alignment, a two-section spindle mounted in said bearings having a coupling between said sections intermediate said inner bearings, the ends of said spindle projecting beyond said outer bearings to receive buffing or polishing wheels for rotation thereby, a driving pulley secured to one section of said spindle intermediate said bearings, and driving mechanism therefor mounted within said cabinet-like support.

2. A buffing machine having a cabinet-like support, a rigid transverse beam secured across the top of said support, said beam being extended on each side thereof to provide rigid arm portions tapering to a reduced cross section at their respective ends spaced outwardly and laterally from said support, a pair of inner spindle bearings secured to the underside of said beam within said support, a pair of outer spindle bearings secured to the underside of said beam at the respective ends of its arm portions, whereby said bearings will be maintained in rigid alignment, a two-section spindle mounted in said bearings having a coupling between said sections intermediate said inner bearings, the ends of said spindle projecting beyond said outer bearings to receive buffing or polishing wheels for rotation thereby, driving mechanism for said spindle mounted within said cabinet-like support, and an externally actuated lock movable to interlocking engagement with said spindle to selectively prevent rotation thereof.

JOSEPH N. CLYNE.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,663,596 Humann Mar. 7, 1928 1,664,896 Perdue Apr. 3, 1928 1,948,848 Dunbar Feb. 27, 1934 2,475,235 Goodwin July 5, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,535 Netherlands Aug. 15, 1923 120,690 Great Britain Mar. 5, 1918 

